Minnesota Assessment System
Overview
Jennifer Dugan
Director, Statewide Testing
6/18/15
“Leading for educational excellence and equity. Every day
for every one.”
Plans for 2015-2016
• Tests Offered
• Legislative Changes
• Administration Details
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Federal and State Requirements for
Minnesota Assessment System
• Mathematics and Reading
– Grades 3–8 and once in high school
– Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards
• Science
– Once in elementary, middle, and high school
– Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards
• English Learners
– Grades K-12
– Assess English language proficiency in Reading,
Writing, Listening, and Speaking
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Minnesota Statewide Testing Program 2015-2016
Assessment
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10 11 12
MCA and MTAS
• Science
ACCESS for ELLs
(English Learners only)
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 Required for federal and state accountability. Developed and administered by the state
(includes MCAs and special education assessments)
 Required for English Learners for federal Title III accountability. Used as exit criterion for state
funding. An alternate assessment is available for ELs with significant cognitive disabilities
Minnesota Assessment System Snapshot
(2015-2016)
2015 Legislative Changes
• Eliminates Career and College Ready
Assessments (state)
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Grade 8 (Explore)
Grade 10 (Plan)
Compass
Grade 11 ACT through state contract
• Requires Districts
– Contract for College Entrance Exam
 Offering College Entrance Exam during school day in school
(or at one of the locations) is graduation requirement
 ACT reimbursement funds available
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Minnesota Assessment System
2015 Legislative Changes
• Requires New HS Writing Test
– Aligned to Minnesota Academic Standards
– Implementation timeline still to be determined
– Details communicated as soon as finalized
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2015 Legislative Changes
Assessment Budget
• MDE will no longer be able to provide a state solution to
the career interest survey
– Districts will need to provide career exploration elements no
later than 9th grade
• Program Reductions/Eliminations for 2015-2016
– No GRAD Retests
 Other options continue to be available
– No Perspective (Learning Locator) beginning July 1
– No Write to Learn
– Further reductions are possible; updates as finalized
• Program Reductions/Eliminations for 2016-2017
– No OLPA
– Further reductions to be determined
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Additional Details
Test Design
• Beginning 2016, MCA grades 3-8 Reading and
Mathematics administration
– Longer test to include items from off-grade
– Required in legislation
• Beginning 2016, MCA grades 3-8 and HS
Reading and Mathematics administration
– Adaptive
– Provide “on-track” indication for career and college
– Required in legislation
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Administration Revisions
2015-2016
• Online and Mobile Devices
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Pilot Study Spring 2015
Reformat
Possible loss of items/pass
Tablets and Chromebooks supported
• Administration Changes
– TestNav8 (test engine)
– PearsonAccessNext (administrative system)
– Cloud-based
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Advisory Committees
• Accommodations Advisory Review Panel
• Assessment Advisory Committee
• Local Assessment and Accountability Advisory
Committee
• Technical Advisory Committee
• State Assessments Technology Work Group
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Advisory Committees
Special Focus and Limited Time
• College and Career Readiness Policy Institute
(2009)
• Assessment and Accountability Working Group
(2012)
• Testing Reduction Advisory Group (2014-2015)
• Test Policies and Procedures Committee (20142015)
• Parent Focus Groups for Report Redesign
(spring 2016)
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How can you become involved?
• Unique professional
development opportunity at
no cost to districts
• Teachers learn how tests
are built
• Teachers learn the
standards intimately
• Teachers see student
performance across the
state
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MDE Assessment Contacts
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Contact Information
• Jennifer Dugan
– Director, Statewide Testing
– (651) 582-8654
– jennifer.dugan@state.mn.us
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